Articles from February 2016

Rome – the eternal city. The capital of Italy and certainly one of the best destinations in the world.

If you fancy a city break then this certainly is the place to come, but be warned – if you want to fit even a fraction of everything Rome has to offer in you’re going to be in for a whirlwind of a trip.

Sightseeing

There are so many different and amazing places to explore in Rome. Walking down just some of the regular streets is a treat. With the beautiful architecture and hidden side-streets you could easily spend hours juts wandering around the city exploring

The vast majority of the places to see in Rome are connected with its ancient history when the city was the capital of the Roman Empire which covered most of Europe. Head to the centre of the city to the east of the River Tiber and you can walk around the old Forum which sits next to the Colosseum – one of Rome’s most distinguishable landmarks.

Although very little remains you can take a short walk along to the Circus Maximus, and slightly further on is the Baths of Caracalla. These impressive ruins are definitely worth a visit where you can learn about the massive lesire complex which once could have held 1,600 bathers at a time.

Away from ancient history there are a number of other places which should definitely be on your iteniarry. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Spanish Steps and the Trevvi Fountain just to name a few. All of the main attractions in Rome are wihtin walking distance from one another, but depending on how much you have planned you could always take the metro to make travelling easier.

Religion

There are over 900 churches around the city which you could explore. However, crossing into the Vatican is certainly the place to visit first. Walking around St. Peter’s basillica is awe-inspiring and it still remains the largest church in the world. As well as visiting the Sistine Chapel to see the exquisite ceiling painted by Michelangelo it is well worth taking the time to visit the Vatican museums which boast an array of objects from throughout the history of Rome.

Food

Italy is of course known for it’s delightful culinary wonders. Although the most popular are still pizza, pasta and ice cream, these foodstuffs are in a league of their own in Italy. For ice cream there are so many places to choose from but here in Rome they make ice cream an art form. Why not check outDella Palma on the Via della Maddalena which boasts over 150 different flavors to choose from!

As for evening meals there is the most fantastic pizzeria here. It’s been serving food since 1888 so they certainly know a thing or two about Italian food.

Excursions

If you’re looking for antidote to the frenetic pace of the city then why not hop on the train for a trip to Ostia? The ancient harbour city of Rome is a beautiful and often quiet archaeological site where you can explore the entire town. You can simply wander through the ancient houses and buildings to see what life must have been like in days gone by.

Alternatively, there are whole host of other picturesque places you can visit by train. Head north and you’ll reach the stunning city of Siena, whilst heading south for a few hours you can explore the ancient ruins of Pompeii. Although they’re certainly long day trips it’s more than possible to see them during a vacation to Rome.